Red Sox waste strong start by Peavy

Wednesday

Apr 16, 2014 at 2:33 AMApr 16, 2014 at 2:39 AM

The return of Red Sox right-hander Jake Peavy to U.S. Cellular Field was the big news before Tuesday night’s White Sox game. But the Red Sox couldn't take advantage of Peavy's strong effort, losing in the bottom of the ninth on a throwing error by shortstop Xander Bogaerts.

Colleen KaneChicago Tribune

CHICAGO – The return of Boston Red Sox right-hander Jake Peavy to U.S. Cellular Field for the opener of a three-game series against his former team was the big news before Tuesday night’s White Sox game.White Sox right-hander Erik Johnson did his best to steal some of that spotlight.

The White Sox rookie went toe-to-toe with Peavy, matching a career high by pitching 62/3 innings while allowing just one run on three hits and two walks as he notched a career-high nine strikeouts.

The White Sox capitalized on Johnson’s best start of the season to pull off a 2-1 victory over the Red Sox in the ninth inning. Alexei Ramirez scored the winning run from second when Marcus Semien reached first on a throwing error by Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts to first baseman Mike Carp with two outs.

Johnson said afterward he remembers listening to Peavy talk about fastball command during Johnson’s first major league spring training. Peavy pitched for the White Sox from 2009 until he was traded in the middle of last summer in a three-team deal that brought right fielder Avisail Garcia to them from the Tigers.

“Just hearing him talk in the locker room, I respect him a lot and I’ve tried to learn as much as I can from him,” Johnson said. “He had some good advice. It’s always great to learn through watching and you can learn from him speaking as well.”

White Sox slugger Adam Dunn welcomed Peavy back to Chicago with a home run to right field, his third homer of the season, to give the White Sox a 1-0 lead over the World Series champions in the second inning.

That was the only run Peavy allowed in six innings as he gave up only three hits while walking four and striking out eight.

Red Sox right fielder Daniel Nava evened the score 1-1 in the fourth inning off Johnson. His home run with two outs went about 414 feet into the right-field stands.

Reliever Daniel Webb earned the victory after recording the final Red Sox out in the ninth to cap a good day for the White Sox bullpen.

Peavy returned to Chicago with another former White Sox player.

Red Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski, who played for the White Sox from 2005-12, was wearing No. 42, as did all the players, in honor of Jackie Robinson on Tuesday. But his new number in Boston is 40, in honor of White Sox announcer Ken “Hawk” Harrelson, who wore the number when he played for the Red Sox.

Pierzynski said he has seen some spark in the retooled offense of his former team.

“I know they are swinging the bat really well,” Pierzynski said of the White Sox, who had scored a major league best 80 runs heading into Tuesday’s game. “They are scoring a bunch of runs, and they have some energy. I know last year playing against these guys there wasn’t a whole lot of energy. They’ve turned it around.”

Pierzynski, who left the White Sox as a free agent before the 2013 season, had visited U.S. Cellular Field with the Rangers last season. He received another healthy round of applause before his first at-bat Tuesday, but the fans also cheered his ensuing groundout to shortstop Alexei Ramirez. He was 0-for-2 with a walk and a hit-by-pitch.

“Fans were always awesome to me here,” Pierzynski said. “I always have good memories as soon as I walk downtown in the city and see people that I know. I walk in the stadium and it’s not just the players and the coaches. It’s the behind-the-scenes people, the security guards and the cooks and the guys who work on the plumbing that you get to know over the years from them being around. Those are the big things and the fun parts coming back here and seeing those people.”

Red Sox first baseman Mike Napoli left in the top of the ninth inning after injuring his left ring finger sliding into second base.

With two outs, Napoli advanced to second on Donnie Veal’s wild pitch. Napoli slid head first into second and appeared to dislocate his left ring finger against the base.

Before the game, the White Sox paid tribute to the one-year anniversary of the Boston Marathon bombings. The White Sox players wore “Boston Strong” T-shirts during pregame and there was video montage along with a moment of silence.

David Ortiz was called out on strikes in the fourth inning on an appeal to third base umpire Doug Eddings. Ortiz was livid after Eddings ruled that the slugger didn’t check his swing. Red Sox manager John Farrell had to intervene to prevent Ortiz from being thrown out of the game.

AROUND THE BASES

Red Sox 2B Dustin Pedroia hopes to be back in the lineup Wednesday night. He’s been out with a sore left wrist and received a cortisone shot Monday after MRI tests came back negative. He entered the game as a pinch-runner for Napoli in the ninth and stayed in the game at second base. ... Red Sox closer Koji Uehara threw a bullpen session before the game and is expected to throw another bullpen session Wednesday. Farrell expects to have Uehara available on Thursday. ...Red Sox OF Shane Victorino is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment with one of the club’s minor league affiliates later this week.